City Comparison · 2026

Southampton vs Inverness 2026

South East England

Southampton

Median Salary £33,500

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £24,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4%

Unemployment 4.2%

Scottish Highlands

Inverness

Median Salary £30,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Southampton

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Inverness

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Southampton

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Inverness

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Southampton

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Southampton

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Southampton vs Inverness

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →

Inverness

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands with strong healthcare and public sector employment and growing tourism and energy sectors.

Full Inverness Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Inverness

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More Comparisons

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£52,800 vs £33,500

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£36,500 vs £33,500

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Manchester vs Inverness

£36,500 vs £30,000

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Birmingham vs Southampton

£33,200 vs £33,500

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Birmingham vs Inverness

£33,200 vs £30,000

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